Guide



April 1963 J. N. G. DECHENE 3,083,931

GUIDE Filed June 15. 1959 United States Patent 3,083,931 GUIDE Joseph Napoleon Gerard Dechene, Laurel, Del., assignor to E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Filed June 15, 1959, Ser. No. 820,456 2 Claims. (Cl. 242-457) This invention relates generally to the production of yarn and, more particularly, to an improvement in the apparatus for packaging twisted yarn.

The usual practice is to build a package on a ring twister by advancing the yarn through a pigtail guide and a traveler to a spindle-driven spool. The traveler rides on a ring and follows the rotational movement of the spool, with the amount of twist imparted to the yarn depending on the ratio of spindle Speed to take-up speed. As the spool is rotated, the yarn travels circumferentially around the inner surface of the pigtail guide and takes the form of a balloon. The conventional pigtail guide consists of a cylindrically shaped coil of wire with a straight terminal piece overlapping the coil to facilitate threading of theguide. In passing the point of overlap, the yarn is transferred from reach to reach of the coil which causes the circular balloon motion to halt momentarily before snapping past the transitional point and continuing its movement around the inner surface of the guide. Since the linear speed of the yarn running through the guide is constant, this pause results in a groove or irregularity at the transition point on the coil which eventually causes snagging of the yarn or its individual filaments. As a result of the groove worn by the running yarn and the consequent yarn defects, conventional cylindrical pigtail guides generally require replacement after 4 to 8 weeks use.

The general object of the present invention is to improve stability and continuity of the running yarn at the apex of the balloon.

The most important object of the present invention is to provide a conically shaped balloon guide which affords a smooth transition between the reaches of the spiral portion of the guide as the running yarn travels around its inner surface.

A further important object of the invention is the provision of a balloon guide in which the coiled length is conically tapered away from the ring of the twisting apparatus.

With these and other objects in view, the pigtail guide of the present invention comprises generally a length of wire formed intermediate its ends into at least one complete conical-1y tapered coil and terminating in a portion extending outwardly from the coil. Other objects and certain advantages inherent in the use of such a guide will become apparent in the following specification wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a partial perspective of a twisting apparatus with which the guide of the invention is adapted for use;

FIG. 2 is atop plan view of the guide shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section taken on line IlIIll of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the balloon guide of FIGS. 2 and 3.

The ring twister apparatus shown in FIG. 1 includes a pigtail balloon guide 10 on a fixed support frame 12, a ring 14 on a vertically reciprocating lay rail 16, a traveler 18, a spool 20, and a belt driven spindle 22. Guide 10 is axially spaced from ring 14 and spindle 22. The running yarn passes through guide 19 and traveler 18 to spool 20. In view of the rotational speed of spool 20 and traveler 18, the yarn takes the form of a balloon between guide 10 and traveler 18. Suitable apparatus for feeding and drawing the yarn is usually located in advance of guide 10.

Referring now to FIGS. 24, it is seen that the guide 10 is fabricated from an elongated element and has a first end portion or shank 24, an intermediate coiled portion 26, and a second end portion 28 which extends tangentially :away from the coil. The coiled portion should extend through at least one complete convolution. This coil or spiral 26 is conically tapered from its lower reach to its upper reach and may be conveniently formed on a cone shaped mandrel. The preferred angle for the apex of the mandrel and therefore of the coiled portion is the median angle of the balloon formed by the yarn as lay rail 16 reciprocates relative to spool 20. In aconventional ring twister, the included angle of the spiral is preferably about 22. The element from which the guide is formed may be a wire or any other material suitable for use in a yarn guide.

In operation, as the spool 20 rotates, the yarn passes linear-1y through guide 19 and traveler 18, and a package 30 is built. A balloon is formed and the running yarn travels around the inner surface of coil portion 26. The conical shape of the guide permits the yarn to shift from reach to reach of coil 26 with essentially no hesitation in its circular motion. This feature is insured by the common tangency of the yarn with both reaches of the coil. This continuous, stabilized movement of the yarn results in a smooth thread line action. Another way of expressing the functional advantage is to state that the use of a conical-1y tapered pigtail balloon guide places the apex of the balloon at a point above guide 16 rather than at the point of contact with the guide, as is the case with a conventional cylindrical guide.

In addition to its use in a ring twister apparatus, the guide of the invention also has utility in other twisting apparatuses such as up twisters, down twisters, or cap twisters, as well as in any textile operation where running yarn forms a balloon in going to or coming from a rotating bobbin. The present invention accordingly is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A pigtail balloon guide comprising: an elongated element adapted for attachment at one end thereof to a support, formed intermediate the ends thereof into a tapered spiral of at least one complete convolution, and having its opposite end extending outwardly from the spiral.

2. A pigtail balloon guide comprising: an elongated element adapted for attachment at one end thereof to a support, said element being formed intermediate the ends thereof into a coil conically tapered through at least one complete convolution, said element terminating in a portion extending outwardly from the coil.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 259,627 Wright June 13, 1882 1,225,663 Leigh May 8, 1917 2,249,759 Gram July 22, 1941 2,839,887 Breazeale June 24, 1958 2,897,550 Carmichael et a1. Aug. 4, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 444,256 France Aug. 2, 1912 

1. A PIGTAIL BALLOON GUIDE COMPRISING: AN ELONGATED ELEMENT ADAPTED FOR ATTACHMENT AT ONE END THEREOF TO A SUPPORT, FORMED INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS THEREOF INTO A TAPERED SPIRAL OF AT LEAST ONE COMPLETE CONVOLUTION, AND HAVING ITS OPPOSITE END EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM THE SPIRAL. 